The criticisms were contained in a follow-up inspection carried out at the 43-bed Atlanta Nursing Home in Bray, Co Wicklow, by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Management at the nursing home was ordered to undertake 13 separate actions after the inspection in January.

Among the issues raised by the inspectors were:

Failure to provide activities for residents, with "little thought to enhancing the quality of life".

Lack of awareness among staff as to what constituted a medical error.

A resident whose wound was not being cared for in line with her hospital discharge letter which "could have resulted in poor outcomes for the resident".

No covers for bedpans when they were being transported, posing a risk of cross-infection.

Inspectors also raised concerns about a patient who had lost a significant amount of weight. The woman lost nine kilogrammes in just over three months. Her records showed she "refused food", but her care plan for nutrition was found to be of "poor standard".

During the inspection, an alleged incident of abuse was disclosed to the inspector by the person in charge of the home. The alleged incident was subsequently reported, investigated and a report completed.

Separately, a resident was found smoking in his bed in a shared room on the first floor.

Concerns were also raised about CCTV coverage.

"There was no documentary evidence that residents and relatives were informed that this was in place," the report said.

A number of issues which were raised were rectified by the home's owners immediately, while others will be carried out over the coming months.

The owner of the home, Thomas J Cahill, said: "We would ask that issues/comments taken in isolation are not subjectively taken as indicative of the overall level of care provided in Atlanta."